Midgett Tosses Record Six TDs in Win at LaGrange

Dustin Midgett
Dustin Midgett

LaGrange, Ga. - Sophomore quarterback Dustin Midgett threw for a program-record six touchdown passes on Saturday afternoon to lead his Battling Bishops to their third straight win, 48-21, at LaGrange College. In addition to topping Wesleyan's record book, his six TDs tied the USA South record for touchdown passes in a game.

LaGrange took an early 7-0 lead in the opening quarter, but an 80-yard kickoff return by senior Jacques Alston on the ensuing kickoff set up Midgett's first scoring strike, a 9-yarder to Alston just three plays later.

After NCWC's defense forced a punt on the Panthers' next possession, Wesleyan posted the first points of the second quarter with a 7-play, 59-yard drive that was capped by a 12-yard pass from Midgett to sophomore wide receiver Malik Adams. LaGrange answered with a scoring drive of its own to once again knot the score with less than two minutes remaining in the half, but a 20-yard run by Alston was followed by a 46-yard TD from Midgett to Adams, giving NCWC a 21-14 lead at the break.

It was all Bishops in the second half as Wesleyan outscored LaGrange 27-7 over the final two quarters. In the third, Midgett connected with freshmen wideouts Dwayne Bishop and Juan Williams from 4- and 7-yards out, while the fourth opened with a 17-yard TD to junior John Young.

As if six TD passes weren't enough, Midgett rounded out the scoring with a 19-yard scoring rush of his own, and freshman Codan Breckenridge's sixth extra point of the day provided the 48-21 final.

The victory featured a total team effort on both sides of the ball. In addition to Midgett's six TDs to five different receivers, Alston turned in his fifth straight 100-yard rushing game with 154 yards on 22 carries. Defensively, the Bishops held the Panthers to just 297 yards of total offense on the day. Freshman Anthony Janezic and sophomore Travonne Marshall combined for 17 tackles, while as a team, the Bishops tallied 13 tackles-for loss, seven sacks (three by Rakeem Cooper), six pass break-ups and a pair of interceptions (Bobby Tucker and Tyreik Dix).

Wesleyan now enters its bye week with a 4-2 overall record, while in conference play, NCWC is tied atop the league standings with a 3-1 mark. The Bishops return to action on October 25th when they host long-time rival Methodist University on Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm at Bishop Stadium.